Who We Are

The core Team will consist of the following professionals with deep experience building companies and a strong understanding of the energy market.

Jim Nunes

Jim is an executive with over 25 years of experience consulting to and directly managing companies. Technically competent and well qualified in all core operational functions, with a proven ability to launch and manage companies and develop infrastructure projects. Jim has significant experience building companies in highly regulated industries such as Defense, Energy and Telecom. In five years, he turned around a firm losing $2M on $6M in sales and increased sales to almost $200M with profits of over $17M. Jim has built a number of successful companies in the areas of energy, telecom, government contracting and professional services. He has extensive energy experience that includes assisting in the development of a 600 MW gas fired plant and acquisition and overhaul of oil fired plants. He also was a co-founder of GeoUtilities an internet energy services provider that was sold to AES power. Jim has served as an executive management consultant to many Fortune 1000 companies.

Paul Fuhs

Paul has significant expertise in Alaska energy market with intimate knowledge of the regulatory issues and funding sources. He has operated Paul Fuhs Professional Services, since 1994-present. His professional services include project development consulting, lobbying and public relations services on local, state and federal transportation, natural resource and energy issues. In 1995, he was a Contracted Political Advisor to the Alaska State Legislature on National Energy and Environmental Affairs. Included public relations, coalition building and lobbying Congress on ANWR and other issues. Commissioner, Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, 1992 to 1994, Chief Executive of Cabinet level department responsible for Alaska's business regulatory, economic development and international trade programs. The department manages the state’s economic development advocacy and marketing in oil and gas, fishing, timber, tourism, mining, energy and other services and industries. The department maintains international trade offices in 8 nations, provides infrastructure financing and regulates banking and securities, insurance, and occupational licensing. Direct supervisor over 17 divisions, 440 employees and an annual operating budget of $72 million—Juneau, Alaska. State of Alaska, Director of Economic Development, 1991-1992. Coordinating Alaska's economic diversification program in resource industries, manufacturing and small business assistance. ALASKA ENERGY AUTHORITY, Chairman of the Board. Authority finances and manages large scale electrical installations in Alaska.

Geoff Merrill

Prior to joining NorthStar, Geoff was the Chief Operating Officer of SNCT, a leading manufacturer of protective clothing and gear for the U.S. military. He was responsible for the smooth and efficient operation of the company’s three plants and 1,400 employees. Previously, Geoff worked as VP of Government Relations for Volvo Group, a leading global manufacturer of trucks, buses, construction equipment, marine and aerospace engines, where he managed the Washington office of this $40 billion global company. He was the company’s primary federal government advocate and worked with senior management to develop and implement the company’s Federal marketing/sales strategy. Prior to joining Volvo, Geoff was a senior executive in the Federal Marketing practice at the Columbus Group (DC’s largest Federal marketing firm at that time). Geoff received his M.A. from the Fletcher School at Tufts.

Ravi Vora

Ravi Vora (Consultant) brings to the company decades of executive-level experience across the entire spectrum of the global energy value chain—from renewable energy (wind, solar, biomass, and unconventional), to oil/gas E&P, to refining and petrochemicals, to power generation, to electric utility market segments. Prior to joining Tri Global Energy, he was CEO of TransWind Energy, a consulting firm offering strategic advisory, project development, project financing, and industry advisory services in the renewable energy sector. Before that, Ravi served as CEO of North America for Suzlon Wind Energy, where his introduction of Suzlon's wind turbine in the U.S. market led to a $3 billion market cap at IPO.